Indians can't capitalize on opportunities in loss

When the Fort Osage softball had runners on bases, it couldn't get the big hit.

When the Indians finally got the big hit they needed, the bases were clear. In a nutshell, that summed up the Thursday night's 4-2 home loss to Winnetonka.

Fort Osage had the tying run at first base when the contest ended with MaKiah Embrey getting a strikeout looking to secure the victory for the Griffins.

The strikeout with a runner at second base made the Indians 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position Thursday.

Fort Osage had 10 hits and left nine runners on base in the loss.

“That has kind of been our thing this year,” Fort Osage coach Kelly Sullivan said. “We were getting people in scoring position.”

Winnetonka (5-12) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning behind Kaley Kumpf's bases-clearing triple that fell between the right fielder and center fielder.

The Indians (5-10) got a run back in the bottom of the inning. Taylor Dickmeyer led off with a walk and Taylor Wiseley reached on a sacrifice bunt that was dropped by the second baseman.

Chloe Harris followed with a sharp grounder to third base. A forceout at the base followed, but an errant throw to first base went up the right-field line and Wiseley came around to score.

Fort Osage loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the fourth on singles by Dickemyer, Harris and Alecia Monday. A strikeout and fly ball ended the scoring threat, keeping it 3-1.

Wiseley singled to open the bottom of the sixth, but a double play followed to hurt the rally. Harris hit a sharp grounder to third base and was out at first base, but with the third baseman playing in Wiseley broke for the open base.

Winnetonka first baseman Dara Fitzmaurice then threw a laser across the diamond to nail Wiseley at third base. Monday then stepped to the plate and hit a rope over the left field wall, making it 3-2.

“She saw the open base and wanted to go for it,” Sullivan said. “We teach them to be aggressive and see the base.”

The next inning a two-out walk by Lexi Eskijian gave the Griffins a base runner for Kumpf, who followed with a double to the gap in right-center field. The extra base hit, almost in the same location as her triple, easily scored Eskijian for the insurance run.

“It was nice getting a district win when it comes to seeding,” Winnetonka coach Marc Asquith said. “We are going into this game we are about even in wins and losses and played everyone equally. It was helpful.”

Fort Osage had a two-out rally in the bottom of the seventh that put pressure on the Griffins.

Brooke Dougherty had a single to left and Hailey Chase followed with a single on the first pitch she saw. With two runners on base, Dickmeyer had a full count when a strike called looking ended it.

The Indians won't have much time to dwell on the setback with three games on the agenda today in the Liberty North Tournament. Fort Osage will play Liberty, Webster Groves and Grain Valley, before having two more games on Saturday.